Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-24
ENGINEER BEANS REASONS
Why the Cable, Steam Motor and Horse
Systems are Unsuitable to Street Cars

Why the Cable, Steam Motor and Horse
Systems are Unsuitable to Street Carr
Here.
In his report to the Bennett Brothers
Engineer c.. o. Bean had much to say
about all the systems of street railroad
United States. The following are hit
views upon the systems other than thu
electric, which be examined, and the rea'
sons why he does not think them suitable tc
the circumstances existing in Butte. Beinl
the views of a mon who is thoroughly compe
tent to express an opinion carrying weight
and entitled to the fullest consideration
they are here given to set at rest all doubt
as to the possibility of any other than the
electric motor that has been decided upon
He premises by saying:
Il have O examined three steam mo.
tor systems, three cable, and various cleo.
trio. besides horse car systems too numer-
GUS to mention. l have attempted at
least to examine without prejudice, and in
advising you which to adapt, have taken
into consideration the peculiar conditions
under which a system OF street railway will
now w w OPOAoo0u III OutLO OlVys
THE CABLE SYSTEM.
I'VE cannot safely estimate the first cost
Of construction at less than 500, 900 pei
mile. In your case the cost would be very
great. In the first place seventy to eighty
per cent. OF the entire power is spentin run
ming the cable when not loaded. Track re-
pairs are more expensive than on any
othSr system, and there is need Of more
fuel and oil. It is no doubt the very bes,
system in large cities, but cannot pay in
Butte.
"THE STEAM MOTOR
is not a safe motor on the streets OF any
city. 1t is admirably adopted to suburban
lines where traffic is comparatively heavy
or to lines connecting cities not far apart
Such motors as you would need would cost
exclusive OF freight, about 81, 900 each,
and you could not use them on grades
heavier thai seven per cent. Besides the
expense OF fuel, you would be obliged to EN-.
ploy an engineer n fireman on each mo.
tor. When passing through the streets of a
city the engineer should be at his post all
the time. The steam motor frightene
horses worse than any other motor; but
leaving that fact out of consideration, it is
expensive.
HORSE CARS.
"Your grades are such that il YOU use
horses, very light and small cars will
be necessary, and your speed will be so
slow that more cars will be needed than is
generally required on such short lines. On
your two 10 ger lines Ito the depot and
Meaderville) you could use two horses per
car and get along in the old time way, but
on the VAUDEVILLE line four horses to the
car would be necessary. As a rule horses
are driven on horse-cars but five hours per
day. there being three shifts. One of the
chief difficulties with the operation oil your
lines by horse power is the heavy traffic at
certain hours Of the day. when the miners
are going to and returning from their work.
From what l could sea of Butte, 1 Judge
there will be quite a rush at certain hours,
when it horse.cars were used, several would
be required at one the. The horse-car
is undoubtedly the cheapest in first
From which it will be seen the cable
steam motors and horse.cars are
in Butte, and the reasons
published yesterday for the adoption OF
the electric motors show it to be the most
in use here.